If you like Pinot you will love this winery. Just driving to this winery is reason enough to visit! Its a small winery, that isn't super cute, but the service and tastings were great! Our server asked if he could just pour what he wanted and we ended up getting an extensive tasting.
Who would have guessed that a kid from Amherst, Massachusetts, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Sciences (Pre-Veterinary) and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Italian from the University of Massachusetts, would end up in Santa Barbara County as an up-and-coming winemaker? Benjamin Silver did just that after catching the wine bug in 1993 at a summer job at Chicama Vineyards on Martha’s Vineyard.
Deerfield is a winery where you're encouraged to sit and enjoy your wine. You're not crowded around a tasting bar, fighting for space and attention in order to sip your wine. Instead, the tasting takes place in a cave, with tables and chairs everywhere - encouraging everyone to have a seat, enjoy their wine and the sommeliers will be around to pour the wine.
Gustavo Thrace is a must visit for any level of wine enthusiast. Long story short, Gustavo was raised in the vineyards and has wine in his blood. Thrace is the partner with a deep love of viticulture and has business talent. Together, we all have the benefit of Gustavo Thrace wines that can be found near the Oxbow market in Napa. Really, there's a lot that could be said. Bottom line, it's a great stop during your visit to Napa Valley or on your Bottleshock tour.
Our passion at Great Bear Vineyards is to grow the highest quality grapes and to make superb wines. We are a family-run vineyard and winery.
Great Bear Vineyards is the culmination of the Meadows-Smith family’s dream to create world-class wines to share with friends, family and our community.
We proudly tend our vines by hand using sustainable farming practices, working in harmony with nature. Our winemakers, Jenny and Marcus, craft small lots of award-winning wines from our premium grape
Vincent Arroyo Family Winery was founded by Vincent Arroyo, who discovered his passion for viticulture in the early 1970s. While browsing the San Francisco Chronicle, Vince came across a listing for a farming property just north of Calistoga, California. Feeling more connected to the land than to his career as a mechanical engineer in Silicon Valley, he was drawn to the prospect of a rural lifestyle and decided to make a change. In 1972, he purchased the 23-acre property and began transforming the existing prune and walnut orchards into what is now Vincent Arroyo Family Winery.
Initially, Vince sold all of his grapes to the Napa Co-Op. However, he soon began experimenting with winemaking, releasing the first commercial vintage of Vincent Arroyo Family Winery in 1984. In the early days, Vince managed everything himself, from driving the tractor to making the wine. Today, the winery produces 8,000 cases annually but remains a true family affair. Vince's daughter, Adrian, and her husband, Matt Moye, are dedicated to preserving the family's traditions while keeping the winery relevant and current, with the hope that Vince's three grandsons will one day carry on the family business.
Matthew Moye, the co-proprietor and winemaker at Vincent Arroyo Family Winery, has been tending to the wines under Vince's guidance for the past decade. Originally from California's Central Valley, Matt graduated from the University of San Diego and pursued a law degree at the University of the Pacific-McGeorge, where he met his future wife, Adrian, who is Vince's daughter. After passing the California Bar, Matt realized that law wasn't his true calling. Vincent offered him a position at the winery while he figured out his path, and it didn't take long for Matt to discover his passion for winemaking.
When he's not in the cellar crafting wines, Matt enjoys golfing, fishing, and beachcombing with his family. He and Adrian live in Napa with their three sons, who they hope will one day lead Vincent Arroyo Family Winery into its third generation.
Great job by the owners creating a feeling of Tuscany! Beautiful place... locals call this a "one stop shopping" tasting experience! Wood fired pizzas, a KILLER gelateria, Italian varietals in the tasting room; a deli with various panini and cheeses,salads, etc...a must stop when touring the Kenwood area!
Confessions of a Winemaker Chef - I always considered winemaking to be “cooking”. Through my entire time as a chef, I wanted to work with the flavors, textures, and aromas of grapes from the California coast. Finally I took the plunge and moved to Napa Valley.
New Clairvaux Vineyard is a unique winery destination. With one of the world’s most distinguished winemaking histories, the land now serves as home to Trappist-Cistercian monks. This Roman Catholic order’s rich viticultural history dates back nearly a thousand years. Together in partnership with fifth-generation California winemaker Aimée Sunseri and her family, they strive to revitalize this remarkable place.
The views from this winery are beautiful, so we got some great pictures. No wonder people have weddings here!Busy on a Sunday afternoon but Super friendly. Shelly waved us on over and introduced us to the Falkner wines. Enjoyed the reds...especially the Cabernet and the two Meritage blends. Chose the 7 wine tasting for $15. Never had to pay up front like this up in the Central Coast wineries where we frequent. Your tastings are also usually free up there if you buy a few bottles. Falkner does give a $5 coupon toward your purchase of a bottle and you do get to keep the glasses.
Painting by Agata Zaborowski Family enjoying wine
